Regional Roundup

August 29, 2013

STEUBENVILLE - The Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority has filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court against Apex Environmental for money the solid waste district says is owed in tipping fees.

Apex Environmental, which operates a landfill near Amsterdam, is required by state law to pay tipping fees to the solid waste district for each ton of garbage disposed at the landfill.

The solid waste district claims the landfill has not paid tipping fees from March through September of 2012, and has not requested an extension of time to make the payment.

The solid waste authority says it is owed $68,653.

Environmental Logistics Services of Bridgewater, N.J., also was named as a defendant.

Cliff Meyer, JB Green Team executive director, said the district has sent letters to Apex and had numerous conversations with company officials trying to get the matter resolved. Meyer said he had no further comment.

Apex officials didn't return a call for comment.

Truck thief search continues

WELLSBURG - City Police continue to seek a man who stole a pickup truck from the new Eagle Manufacturing facility under construction near 22nd Street Tuesday.

City Police Sgt. Les Skinner said the man was described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s, about 6 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds, with a buzz cut and wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans or khaki pants.

Skinner said the man took the truck from a lot across from the Eagle site at about 5 p.m. after attempting to start another vehicle there.

He said the owner, who is a worker involved in the construction, attempted to stop the man by jumping on the hood as the thief pulled away. The man was treated and released at a local hospital for injuries he sustained when he fell from the hood, Skinner said.

Skinner said workers at the site reported the vehicle headed northbound on state Route 2, and area police were asked to watch for it.

He said Wellsburg Police arrived at the scene after the thief fled and there was no police pursuit of the vehicle, though he was told a worker at Eagle attempted to follow the truck.

Skinner said the vehicle was found, with its frame bent, by Weirton Police near a wooded area near the former Pleasant Valley Golf Course off North 12th Street. He said a K9 unit and others searched unsuccessfully for the man.

Anyone with information about the incident should call City Police at (304) 737-1121 or (304) 527-1430.

Pa. charter founderplead not guilty

PITTSBURGH - The founder and former CEO of a cyber-charter school that educates more than 11,000 Pennsylvania students has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he siphoned more than $8 million from the school through a network of profit and nonprofit companies he also controlled.

Fifty-eight-year-old Nicholas Trombetta entered the plea Wednesday at his arraignment before a federal magistrate in Pittsburgh. His accountant, Neal Prence, also 58, pleaded not guilty to allegedly helping Trombetta shield the stolen money from federal taxes.

Trombetta, founder of the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, allegedly bought a $1 million Florida condominium, houses for his girlfriend and mother, and spent nearly $1 million on living expenses since 2006. Federal prosecutors say he tucked away most of the money in a shell company for his retirement.

Authority OKs unloading stations

WEIRTON - The port authority board passed a resolution authorizing construction of three additional truck unloading stations at the World Point Terminal, reserving the right to pre-approve engineering plans and ensure regulatory compliances.

"The first canopy is in closing right now," Interim Executive Director Karl Keffer said, adding the distribution of proceeds from World Point and its local affiliate, Center Point/APEX, to Weirton Area Port Authority is in progress.

Keffer said "private equity bonding is coming in, closing out the as-builts."

"As the as-built facility is completed, distribution of proceeds will begin in the next 10-14 days," he said.

Earlier, he said the "private equity piece just came together."

He said James White Construction Co. is doing the planned extension of the containment area.

The board tabled action on a proposal to add four seats.

Controlled bow hunt in Panhandle

WEIRTON - Residents of Brooke and Hancock counties are eligible to take part in a controlled bowhunt from Sept. 30 through Dec. 21.

Any hunter planning to participate must attend one of the mandatory pre-hunt meetings at the Millsop Community Center's Weirton Room at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. Sept. 4, or 6 p.m. Sept. 18. Those attending the meeting must bring their International Bowhunter Education Foundation card, photo identification (driver's license) and an ink pen to complete the application and other paperwork.

For information, contact Lee Snoderly at (304) 737-2375.

JVS board to meet Sept. 5

BLOOMINGDALE - The Jefferson County Joint Vocational school board will meet in special session at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at the board office, 1509 county Road 22A, to discuss personnel issues.